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Featuring a plethora of game-changing multi-modal transportation options, the I-66 corridor west of the Capital Beltway has been transformed to benefit Northern Virginia commuters no matter where they go — or how they get there.
As part of VDOT’s Transform 66 Outside the Beltway project, the I-66 corridor now features a series of multi-modal improvements funded by the operator of the 66 Express Outside the Beltway, I-66 Express Mobility Partners (I-66 EMP). The consortium of global infrastructure companies Cintra, Meridiam and APG is investing over $4 billion in private funds to bring reliable transportation options that move more people more efficiently, to effectively unlock the busy I-66 corridor for everyone, whether they drive or take public transit.
As part of this investment since 2020, I-66 EMP has provided more than $100 million in direct funding to support ongoing public transit operations and capital investments along the I-66 Outside the Beltway corridor.
I-66 EMP will continue making annual mass-transit subsidy payments increasing each year throughout the 50-year term of the public/private partnership (P3) agreement between I-66 EMP and the Commonwealth, which ends in 2066. By the close of the contract term I-66 EMP will have invested more than $1.5 billion in mass-transit improvements along the corridor.
Transit investments making positive impacts
Investments made by I-66 EMP are dedicated to enhancing mass-transit infrastructure in the region, with funding allocated to support various initiatives aimed at improving commuter options and reducing congestion along the I-66 corridor. These investments, made in the form of annual mass-transit subsidy payments, contribute to programs that expand public transit services, making commuting more efficient and accessible for residents. A key component of this effort is the I-66 Commuter Choice Program, which benefits from these funds to offer enhanced transportation alternatives that promote sustainability and ease of travel for daily commuters.
Improvements made possible by these investments are already visible. Funding provided by I-66 EMP has enabled Fairfax Connector to acquire eight new buses and create five new commuter routes in the corridor, while OmniRide has acquired nine new commuter coaches.
There’s more to come. As of July 2024, a total of $21.5 million had been approved for I-66 Commuter Choice Program projects scheduled for implementation in fiscal year 2025-2026, with much of the funding stemming from I-66 Express Mobility Partners’ annual mass-transit subsidy payments.
According to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, (NVTC), these Commuter Choice projects are expected to result in a myriad of benefits, such as 21 million fewer vehicle miles driven each year, 250,000 hours of delay time saved each year, a 70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to driving individual cars, and $2.6 million in fuel-cost savings for commuters each year.
Beyond I-66 EMP’s investment in local mass transit, the roadway operator provided the Commonwealth with an up-front concession-fee payment of $579 million as part of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway project. The concession-fee payment has funded a variety of infrastructure improvements throughout the I-66 corridor, including a new maintenance and storage facility in Prince William County to accommodate the Potomac & Rappahannock Transportation Commission’s expanded Omniride bus fleet, and a $43 million commuter garage and transit center near the 66 Express on Monument Drive next to Fairfax Corner, which opened in June 2024.
That transit center is immediately adjacent to the 66 Express and features 820 parking spaces, eight bus bays, a pick-up and drop-off area and new racks and storage for bicycles. Plus, it provides concurrent access to new and re-routed Fairfax Connector routes that take advantage of toll-free travel on the 66 Express.
“The goal of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway project has always been about moving more people and with the 66 Express we can do so more effectively and reliably,” said Luis Tejerina, CEO of I-66 EMP. “We’re thrilled to have made such a positive impact on the region’s transit infrastructure, allowing public transportation agencies in Fairfax and Prince William to better serve commuters and get them where they need to go.”
Transit experts talk impacts of I-66 EMP’s investments
The story of I-66 EMP’s transit investment isn’t only told by expected benefits. There’s tangible proof of positive impacts on commuters in NVTC’s annual report on the I-66 Commuter Choice Program from 2023.
That year saw record levels of transit ridership since the Commuter Choice Program’s inception in 2017. That means more daily trips, more time saved and less paying for gas at the pump.
The report also states that Fairfax Connector and Prince William’s OmniRide “benefited from more reliable travel and saved up to 15 minutes compared to their prior travel times, a level of savings that plays a significant factor in attracting new transit riders.”
Regarding OmniRide routes from western Prince William in particular, “travel times are 15 to 20 minutes shorter and much more reliable…since the opening of the [66 Express Outside the Beltway].”
The current chair of NVTC and Arlington County Supervisor Matt de Ferranti took note of the positive impacts made by I-66 EMP’s transit investments, stating, “I-66 Express Mobility Partners, through its partnership with the Commonwealth of Virginia, is providing much-needed funding for additional buses and transit connections through the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission’s Commuter Choice program.”
He added that I-66 Commuter Choice projects awarded by NVTC have saved commuters $38 million in fuel expenses and travel time savings.
“Investment in expanded transit service, commuter incentives, improved access to transit stations and other enhancements has supported nearly three million trips, saved 80 million miles of vehicle travel, prevented 120 vehicle crashes, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 71% compared to driving alone,” de Ferranti said. “These projects give people more options for their commutes and provide measurable quality of life improvements for residents and visitors in Northern Virginia.”
Bob Schneider, executive director of PRTC OmniRide in Prince William County, discussed how the partnership between I-66 EMP and local mass transit agencies is essential to the region’s continued growth.
“OmniRide and our customers have seen tremendous benefit from the I-66 Express Outside the Beltway program,” Schneider said.
He pointed out that transit service is now faster and more reliable, thanks to the infrastructure of the 66 Express.
“Full-time bi-directional service on I-66 is a game-changer because it gives us high reliability in one of the most difficult traffic environments in the United States,” Schneider added. “With $3.2 million per year in direct operational investment, as many as 13 buses in peak service at once on 66 Express-funded routes and nearly 150,000 trips on those routes alone. I-66 EMP, NVTC, DRPT and Commuter Choice are helping us change commuting in Northern Virginia.”
Investing in transit makes good business sense
Public transit is a public good. It helps to take cars off the road, reducing both traffic congestion and carbon emissions while keeping Northern Virginia’s economic engines running.
After breaking ground in November 2017 and fully opening ahead of schedule in November 2022, the 66 Express Outside the Beltway has generated an estimated $4.9 billion in local economic impact for the seven-year period from 2016 to 2022, according to a Steer report. That figure is expected to rise substantially as I-66 EMP’s ongoing investments in public transit infrastructure improvements help Northern Virginia commuters reliably get where they need to go along the I-66 corridor.
As the operator of managed “express” lanes, we understand the value of reducing single-occupant vehicle trips. Fewer cars on the road mean not only reduced congestion but also safer, more predictable travel for everyone. By supporting public transit, we’re helping to ensure a more sustainable and efficient regional transportation system — one that improves the travel experience, enhances road safety and makes long-term economic growth possible. For us, it’s not just about managing traffic today but creating a transportation network that supports the well-being of Northern Virginia for years to come.
About the 66 Express Outside the Beltway
Part of VDOT’s Transform 66 Outside the Beltway program, the 66 Express Outside the Beltway is a transformative 22.5-mile multi-modal mega-project featuring advanced dynamic-tolling systems to keep traffic flowing at all times. The multi-modal corridor provides Northern Virginia commuters, businesses and public transit riders with a reliable option to move people, goods and services throughout the I-66 corridor, allowing drivers to Sit Less, Live More.
Visit www.Ride66Express.com to learn more and keep up with the 66 Express on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
I-66 Express Mobility Partners (I-66 EMP) is a consortium of leading infrastructure companies Cintra, Meridiam, and APG. In public-private partnership (P3) with VDOT, I-66 EMP is contracted to operate the 66 Express Outside the Beltway through 2066. Connect with I-66 EMP on LinkedIn.
